Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-01-09
AWFUL DISASTER
More Than Twenty Lives Lost in a
Wreck
At CAPE HENRY YESTERDAY,
On the Virginia COast-A Life Saving
Crew Lost.
A TERRIBLE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.

NORFOLK, Va, Janury S.-0ne of the
most disastrous shipwrecks that ever oc-
CURED ON the Virginia coast happened at
2 O'Clock this morning near Little Island
Life Saving Station, fourteen miles south
Of Cape Henry. Not less than twenty,
and probably more, lives were lost, among
them five life saving men, who in the dis
charge of their duty were drowned. The
morning was bitterly cold and binding
snow storm prevailed with wind blowing
gale from the northeast. During a lull In
the storm the life saving patrol from the
Little Island Life Saving Station, sighted
large ship stranded On the bar about 800
wards from shore. When he saw the yes'
sci he was going to meet the patrol from
Dam Neck Station and exchange checks,
showing that both patrOlmen had been
to the end of their beat. The Dam Neck
patrol was only few yards distant when
the vessel was sighted, and both fired
rockets to notify the crew of the stranded
ship that she had been seen. They hur-
ried back to their respective stations and
gave
THE ALARM.
In a little while both crews, with life
boats and apparatus, were abreast of the
wreck and the boom of mortar an
nouneed that q line had been shot ont to
the ill-fated vessel. The shot was unsuc-
cessful and second was fired, with q like
result. After firing six unsuccessful shots
the life saving men determined to brave
the furious sea and the death which
seemed certain to await their
venture. The word of COM
mand being given by Captain
Delanza of the Life Saving Station No. 4,
known us Little Island, six of the most
expert beatmen manned each boat At
his command the men gave way with q
will, and in moment both boats were
breasting the furious waves. They reach
ed the ship in safety, and five OF the ships
crew were taken in a life boat, and ten in
ships boat, and ten in ships boat
which was launched for the purpose. The
boats were headed for shore, and not Il
word was spoken, for each man realized
THE AWFUL PERIL
which surrounded them, with steady pull
the two boats were making good headway
for the shore when u wave of great power
struck both boats, capsiZing them instant
ly and pitching their twenty-five Occu-
pants into the boiling sea. Then began 4
desperate struggle for life, and with many
of the men it was a prolonged one. The
Mortified lifc-savers on the beach We're
powerless to assist their drowning COM
radeS, or the unfortunate strangers. The
drowning men were carried southwest by
the seas, and some of them were washed
ashore. AS they came within reach they
were picked up, and endeavOrs were made
to revive them, and in two instances
with success, although one of the two is
badly injured. The vessel is the German
ship Elizabeth, Captain Halberstadt, from
Hamburg to Baltimore, and not one
of her crew survives her wreck.
Her cargo is unknown, as the high seas
have thus far prevented any attempt to
reach her. 1t is thought she Is leaking
badly, and at sunset her masts were
thought to be giving way. Of the Life
Saving, the following were lost:
THE LOST.
ABEL BELANzA, Captain of No. A,
known as Little Island.
J. W. LAND, same station.
GEORGE W. STONE, same.
J. A. BELANzA, OF Dam Neck Station,
and brother of Abel.
JOSEPH SPRATLEY, of Dam Neck.
JOHN ETHRIDGE and
FRANK TELFoRD, of No. Station were
washed ashore and were reScucitated, but
Eldridge is so badly injured that it is
thought that he can not SURVIVE.